The Dark Knight The Prestige, and Nolan's vision of theatricality (Joker)

[Crooklyn]

The Batman has always worn a blue/black costume in those same comics that the Joker wore his purple suit in, why did they change that? Some things don't look so good on screen...

Except the batsuit has changed multiple times in the comics, while Joker's has ALWAYS stayed the same...

And no comment on that last sentence.

 

[Paste Pot Pete]

The Batman has always worn a blue/black costume in those same comics that the Joker wore his purple suit in, why did they change that? Some things don't look so good on screen...

I can't tell you why Batman always wears solid black in the movies. It was a decision dating back almost two decades now by Tim Burton and Bob Ringwood. Nolan, for whatever reasons, decided to continue that tradition.

However the same example doesn't seem to apply to the Joker, who wore nothing short of his traditional purple threads in his one modern day live action appearance. You can go on about how different Nolan and Burton are, but the point is the precedent is there, just like it was for Batman.

Will Nolan go quite as far as Burton? Doubtful. But to assume The Joker will not be purple-clad at all? That's a bit extreme.

 

[ryan dube]

That entire paragraph didn't dip into the Joker's style as a psycho killer. The Joker wore a purple suit, he has always worn the suit, why should that change? Plus the Scarecrow was given us in full costume, at the end of the movie. The entire criminal population is now forever changed, either because of Batman or the Scarecrows scare toxin. Gordan noted the "theatricality" of the Joker IN Batman Begins. There is no reason to believe that the Joker will lose that in between movies.

I just don't think we are going to get that, I mean even Ra's had no costume other than the black ninja outfit (that I can recall) He was dressed in normal fatigues...

I would be suprised if they put Heath in something 'loud'

 

[Paste Pot Pete]

I just don't think we are going to get that, I mean even Ra's had no costume other than the black ninja outfit (that I can recall) He was dressed in normal fatigues...

I would be suprised if they put Heath in something 'loud'

Once again, Neeson's Ra's was trying to be inconspicuous. No one was supposed to know he was the leader of an ancient guild of assassins, that's why he even used an alias.

However, if you remember correctly, "Fake Ra's" was indeed dressed as a colorful villain. He was a full-on Fu Manchu type, with cartoony mustache and huge regal flowing cape.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

First of all, the Tesla machine is not a coincidence since it was not pre-built. Angier requested that Tesla build it.

Furthermore, the Tesla machine is not absurd within the film's rules of reality, because the film clearly establishes that Tesla is accomplishing extraordinary scientific feets. Just because the film focuses on "fake" magic via illusion does not mean it dismisses "real" magic via science. There is nothing within the context of the film that contradicts the possibility of such a cloning machine.

You may not like that the film incorporates such science fiction, and you may prefer that it instead stuck solely with reality, in which case I would respect your opinion completely. But the fact you don't like it does not make it absurd or filled with plot holes.

Well, the film actually TELLS us from the very begininng that it's REAL magic. That it does what magicians pretend to do. We were told that. So.....

Btw, isn't this based on a novel? Is the novel the same, atleast in the Telsa aspect?

Green Goblin was badass.

Doc Ock - Meh.

I dunno.....I thought Doc Ock was pretty damn cool. Some of his lines were tough to swallow....but easier than Gobies.

So what? I remember those scenes clearly- he kept going back to that slow panning shot of the hats, it was quite overtly hinted at. we agree. that does not explain the huge coinsidence of the tesla machine; both the convienant timing of it's creation and the ridiculous actual function of the machine.

Ridiculous?

You do know it's a movie, right? Movies can be as absurd as they like. It's like....the law.

I liked Begins, the only problem I had with it was Batman's speech impediment...lol but that was so minor I don't dwell on it...

I just can't see Nolan not play down the Joker, trying to make it so non-campy that he takes any zeal that the Joker/Heath could portray

what makes you say that?

The Batman has always worn a blue/black costume in those same comics that the Joker wore his purple suit in, why did they change that? Some things don't look so good on screen...

The comics have never explained why Batman wears gray tights. Ever. So much so, that he's actually worn black tight on a regular basis.

I can't tell you why Batman always wears solid black in the movies. It was a decision dating back almost two decades now by Tim Burton and Bob Ringwood. Nolan, for whatever reasons, decided to continue that tradition.

I can.

Looks better, makes more sense, is cooler and fits the character more than gray tights.

It was explained in Batman Begins that it makes for easier stealth.....all the ninjas wore black, and it helped conceal them. That's why Batman wears it in Batman Begins.

 

[ryan dube]

when I mention the "speech impediment" I am jokingly referring to Bale's semi-lisp he has going on, it was funny at times to watch/listen to Batman talk like that...

As far as Nolan playing down the Joker, I think he would maybe make him a little bit more complex and a little bit more of a serious threat and in that, lose focus on the character and what the Joker represents. I hope that they do something or show something to calm my nerves, but this is the Joker we are talking about here.

I mean, even if they cast Jeremy Irons as Mr. Freeze, there is still potential to ruin the character, just look at what Arnold did to it...

 

[Damiean Dark]

I just hope they dont bog down the joker with inane pretentious speeches on madness Keep it stylish but simple. A simple facial or body gesture in the hands of a great actor can portray a thousand words.

 

[Nepenthes]

when I mention the "speech impediment" I am jokingly referring to Bale's semi-lisp he has going on, it was funny at times to watch/listen to Batman talk like that...

Finally! Someone else heard the lisp! Many people have told me I was imagining it. It really hindered Bales Batman and the movie all together imo.

I just hope they dont bog down the joker with inane pretentious speeches on madness Keep it stylish but simple. A simple facial or body gesture in the hands of a great actor can portray a thousand words.

Nice. First post that didn't make me want to throttle you.

 

[Silver Souper]

as much as my friends and I love the movie, we do impersonations of bale's batman/lisp all the time- esp. "rattle the cages"

 

[Nepenthes]

you mean rathles the cageths

 

[Silver Souper]

you mean rathles the cageths

LOLOLOL you just made my day. thank you t:

 

[cranston52]

The original Bat-Man (notice the hyphenated name) costume was supposed to be all black but as this didn't allow for much detail for the character's visual appearance the decision was to use steel grey so some muscular detail was visible. Highlighting the black elements (cowl, trunks, boots, cape) with blue was also used and was a common technique at that time.
As far as the Joker was concerned Kane felt that a criminal who looked like a clown would make an interesting character and the Joker's origin was never revealed until 10 years later when it was brought out that he was originally the "Red Hood". We all know the rest; the acid, blah, blah. My feeling is that if the writers didn't need a "hook" for that particular Batman story, the Joker's identity would have remained a mystery. Keeping the Joker's origin a mystery was, to me at least, more interesting than the usual villain's first appearance origin way to go. His costume was designed with gharish colors to emphisize his facial and folical coloring. If Nolan has every intention of honoring the integrity of the Joker's original appearance in Batman # 1, then I'm confident he will blow us out of our socks.

 

[ryan dube]

If Nolan hadn't played down the visual interpretation of Ducard/Raa's and the Scarecrow, I would then say without a shadow of a doubt that we could get the visual from Batman #1, but since he is set on having everything make sense in this "real world" Batman motif, I would say the Joker that he will bring us will rely more on performance than appearance.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Having the Joker wear purple could make as much sense as they want if they do it right.

 

[Miranda Fox]

Having the Joker wear purple could make as much sense as they want if they do it right.

Exactly.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Thanks babe.

 

[grimlock]

I rented the Prestige and find myself not too entertained by it. Caine,Bale and Jackman were appealing and compelling and the story devised to have a magic trick but the trick for me came out about half the hour of the film.
Scarlet was wasted in this film and brought a lackluster performance.

 

[Paste Pot Pete]

you mean rathles the cageths

At the Batman School for the Speech Impaired, you'll learn to rathles the cageths at the circuth!

 

[StorminNorman]

I just don't think we are going to get that, I mean even Ra's had no costume other than the black ninja outfit (that I can recall) He was dressed in normal fatigues...

I would be suprised if they put Heath in something 'loud'

We got who we thought was Ra's in full Ra's costume

 

[ryan dube]

How so?

that Ra's is just wearing a tunic and a robe, pretty far stretch from the Dracula cape and apparel, not trying to argue, just making an observation from your logic....

so If you continue on with this logic, the Joker won't be wearing his purple and orange outfit

 

[chosen1]

The fake Ra's at Bruce's party had the classic costume on right. And Neeoson had the same costume on but it was in all black. You have to look closely.


"Just a ganster I suppose." -- Avon Barksdale

 

[ryan dube]

ah, but it wasn't green right?

which further validates my point in that since Ra's didn't wear his green suit, what makes people think that the Joker is going to be wearing a purple suit?

 

[Miranda Fox]

ah, but it wasn't green right?

which further validates my point in that since Ra's didn't wear his green suit, what makes people think that the Joker is going to be wearing a purple suit?

Because the Joker is meant to stand out in this universe? Just a guess.

I don't think we should be assuming anything until we see pictures, anyway. But that's just me.

 

[itsthebatman]

Because the Joker is meant to stand out in this universe? Just a guess.

I don't think we should be assuming anything until we see pictures, anyway. But that's just me.

Aye. let's wait and see what the Joker looks like before, well, deciding if its good or bad.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Ra's didn't look like Ra's because we weren't supposed to know he was Ra's.

Whereas, Watanbe, who we were led to believe was Ra's, dressed like Ra's....and even the Newly appointed Fake Ra's (or Ubu) also dressed like Ra's.